Chinese Cheating on Trade

There should be no doubt in the minds of Americans that China has not been living up to the obligations and continues to ignore the rules of the World Trade Organizations (WTO) on bilateral trade with the U.S. and global trade with Western trading partners. For decades, the Chinese Communist centrally managed capitalist economy has been subsidizing inefficient domestic industries, dumping cheaply produced goods such as steel and iron on global markets, and erecting barriers to protect their domestic markets from foreign goods and services.

And, the U.S. and Western governments and global corporations, for decades, have taken the three monkeys approach to confronting China of “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” to addressing the unfair trading practices. The inept response from governments and large corporations are because of the desire to access the lucrative and rapidly growing Chinese domestic market. Over the decades, this approached has proved an ineffective strategy and has only encouraged additional bad behavior and strong arming by the Chinese.

Despite Chinese Communist Party leaders’ continued denials of the bad behavior, there is no doubt that China is coercing the transfer of U.S. and Western technology, and stealing Western Intellectual Property (IP). Again, over the past several decades, Chinese rapid rise to becoming the world’s second largest economy by GDP and their rapid technological advancements as a global leader in artificial intelligence can be directly contributed to their successful pilfering of IP and forcing technology transfers.

Additionally, for decades, multiple U.S. administrations have avoided directly confronting the Chinese regarding their unfair trading practices and outright theft IP and forced technology transfers. The current U.S. – China trade reality is a result of policies of appeasement by administrations of both parties.

The Chinese have deliberately practiced bilateral and multilateral trade in a manner that have created an un-level and unfair trade environment built on theft, coercion, subsidies of domestic enterprises and dumping excesses below market priced goods on global markets that effectively decimates competition.

Great Regrets in Life

“If only I had spent more time at the office.”

“It is a wise man who can learn from his own mistakes. But it’s a far wiser man who can learn from the mistakes of others.”

A regret is usually based on not achieving something you really want to occur in your life. Most people are too busy living their life to stop and imagine the regrets they might have when they are about to die.

There is the phenomenal clarity of vision that people realize on their deathbeds and at the end of their lives. The top regrets of the dying are:

  • I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
  • I wish I had taken better care of my health
  • I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
  • I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
  • I wish that I had let myself be happier.
  • I wish I had saved more and planned better for my retirement
  • I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

The words people won’t say on their deathbeds are, “If only I had spent more time at the office.”

Always remember…Happiness is a choice.

The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives.

It is essential that you invest in your own good health. Many people take better care of their automobile than their own body. Or, many decide there’s no time to PT (military slang for workout) because they have too much work to do and making money is the priority. Yet, by the time you realize that you should have taken better care of your health, it’s probably too late.

Fear of change had them pretending that they were content, while deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.


Source: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying

Source: The 10 Words You Won’t Say…On Your Deathbed, HuffPost, By Larry Schwimmer, Contributor, President Astrodecision, 10/15/2013 02:57pm EDT

Focus on Women’s Finance: 5 Practices of Financially Smart Women | TD Ameritrade – The Ticker Tape

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Financially smart women control their money to get what they want; it doesn’t control them. But it takes planning and a little bit of work if you want to be your own or your family’s chief financial officer (CFO).

https://tickertape.tdameritrade.com/personal-finance/5-things-financially-smart-women-know-16683

 

Knightscope

Knightscope’s mission is to make the United States of America the safest country in the world

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The Knightscope Machine-as-a-Service (MaaS) strategy targets an effective, profitable business model with high recurring revenues at scale with hardware, software, and support components. Our contracts can generate up to $96K per annum providing clients an effective hourly rate of approximately $6 – $12 per hour depending on type of machine and options selected. We target recovering $60K in bill-of-material cost of the robot in year one and we also target $250K estimated profit per robot over targeted life of 5 Years.* Approximately 30% of customers pre-pay full year contract in advance.

Companies Cut Back, but Consumers Party On, Driving the Economy – The New York Times

American consumers are energetically engaged in a spendathon. American businesses, by contrast, are not.

Businesses and households swim in the same economic soup and their outlooks — gloomy or bright — are usually in sync. But in recent months, the two seem to occupy opposite ends of a teeter-totter, with consumers continuing to spend while business owners and managers are chastened by doubt and uncertainty.

The economic expansion has extended its record run despite this curious divergence. The question is how long it can continue.

— Read on www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/business/economy/economy-consumers-business.html

MGM Grand Las Vegas on Halloween

Arrived Las Vegas late on weekday Halloween night. As I walked into MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on The Strip, encountered a multitude of revelers dressed in a variety of risqué costumes.

The first attention getting outfit that crossed my path was quite memorable. The young woman’s attire was a navy blue Brazilian cut string bikini beneath an extremely sheer coverup worn by a five foot nine inch tall twenty-something model-like dirty blond. The young lady not only caught my attention, but also caused quite a stir amongst the mass of humanity that had congregated in the lobby area as she ambled confidently through the MGM’s lobby.

For someone arriving for their first Halloween night in Las Vegas, the abundance of risqué costumes donned by party goers created quite a memorable impression.

Needing to check-in, I observed that the MGM Grand’s check-in line queue was nearly one hundred guests deep at eleven at night. Additionally, the long queue was being serviced by only seven front desk registration staff. Needless to say, the wait time to register was not insignificant.

Fortunately after my long wait in the queue, the individual, Avi-Anna, who completed by registration, was pleasant and extremely efficient. And in little time, I found myself navigating my way through the throngs of people in the lobby and on the casino floor to the elevator lobby and my room

Overall, the stay at the MGM Grand was pleasant and I would rate as above average. My concerns with the short three night stay was the lack of a black-out curtain in the room and the now standard guest rip-off of the $37 daily resort fee. As a result, the night time Vegas lights kept the room illuminated and I fed the “greed” of Resort owners along The Strip.

One positive aspect with staying at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, which also doubled as the host hotel for the conference, was that guests have little reason to leave the hotel and casino since food, entertainment, sleep, nightlife, and Starbuck’s were all contained within the four walls.

How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset

“What you think, you become.”

The idea that our thoughts become our reality? Well that’s something we tend to forget, even if we know it’s true. We prefer to tinker with our outside worlds—to switch our diets, change jobs, try a new life hack. Don’t get me wrong, these do help you move toward a better life.

“Wealth occurs in the mind long before it ever shows up in the wallet”

But the most successful people in history know this: Your thoughts create your reality.

Ancient Wisdom
“Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” —Lao Tzu


“90% of success is mindset.” —David Bayer
Science has finally joined the party and confirmed what our top minds have known for three millennia: Our minds create what shows up in our reality. David Bayer’s clearly done serious thinking about mindset and he had some fascinating science about the power of thought:

  • Thoughts create happiness: In a study published in the Yonsei Medical Journal, researchers found a strong connection between positive thinking and overall life satisfaction.
  • Visualization creates our future: Scientists at the Institute of Neurology in London have shown that those who visualize a better future are more likely to create one.
  • Affirmations bring results: Researchers at the University of Exeter foundthat people who use affirmations (constructive, repetitive thought) to set goals were more likely to achieve them.
  • We tell our brain what to look out for: The Reticular Activating System in our brainstem allows only important information into our consciousness. Studies suggest we can program it with a positive mindset and good things will show up in our lives.
  • Negativity steals our power: When we worry or feel fear, our adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol. Research shows that high levels hurt our productivity and lead to burnout.
  • Others’ mindsets influence our own: Neuroscientists recently discovered“mirror neurons” in the brain that respond to actions we see in others. Surround yourself with positive thinkers and you’ll become one.

— Read on www.success.com/how-to-cultivate-a-growth-mindset/

How to Choose a VPN for Digital Privacy & Security – Consumer Reports

Just about all security experts agree that using a VPN, or virtual private network, when you’re accessing the internet via computer or phone is a good idea. In particular, a VPN is one of the easiest ways to avoid getting hacked while you’re taking advantage of the free WiFi at an airport or library.

But some VPNs are better than others. And a few even sell the consumer data they collect for a profit. Sorting through the various options can be a tough task, even for people schooled in digital security.
— Read on www.consumerreports.org/privacy/how-to-choose-a-vpn-for-digital-privacy-and-security/

Financial Wellbeing Pays Off | Gallup

  • Employee wellbeing is more than just physical health
    • A person’s experience of the five elements of wellbeing affects their work
      A financial wellbeing initiative can improve performance

    Gallup’s research into wellbeing found that “a life well-lived” — the underlying concept of wellbeing — requires the fulfillment of five elements: Career, Social, Physical, Community and Financial wellbeing. A person’s experience of wellbeing — whether thriving, struggling or suffering — affects every aspect of their life. Including their experience of their job.
    — Read on www.gallup.com/workplace/267152/financial-wellbeing-pays-off.aspx

    Five retirement income planning tips. | New York Life

    Save, invest, start early and delay retirement as long as possible are the conventional points of wisdom about retirement planning. But an investor should also consider what their income needs will be in retirement.

    Here are some tips to move your thinking from saving for to living in retirement:

    THINK INCOME, NOT JUST DOLLARS SAVED.
    Instead of focusing on a target number (i.e., “I want to save $500,000 by age 60”), think about income. 

    • What are your monthly expenses and are you able to cover them?
    • Do you plan to downsize? Or would you like to treat yourself to some luxuries in retirement? Do you want travel?
    • Do you want to leave a legacy to your family?
    • How will your savings fare against inflation?
  • There are many great online tools to help you nail down those details—take a look at some of our planning tools.
    1. REVISIT YOUR INITIAL WITHDRAWAL RATE.
      You may start off your retirement with certain needs, but those needs inevitably will change. Make sure you evaluate your withdrawal rate with your financial professional at least annually to make sure you are not drawing too much or too little, and are taking life changes into account.
      TO TAKE OR NOT TO TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY.
      Deciding when to take Social Security varies by individual. Conventional wisdom suggests taking Social Security as late as possible, but that may not be the best decision for you, depending on your health, marital, and financial status. A financial professional can help you determine your ideal time.
      TRANSITION YOUR PORTFOLIO FOR RETIREMENT.
      Build in time to make necessary changes to your portfolio before you retire. That way you are ready and are not making any unnecessary shifts during retirement. In general, a retirement portfolio is less about growth and more about income.
      PLAN FOR A LONG LIFE.
      Life expectancy is on the rise, thanks to advances in health care. This means your money will have to last longer. Consider long-term income vehicles, such as fixed immediate annuities, that provide a steady stream of income for life.
      Making sure you have enough income to live comfortably can help ensure that you don’t tarnish your golden years. By using these tips, you can plan today for a better tomorrow.
      — Read on www.newyorklife.com/articles/5-retirement-income-planning-tips